12-07-2010, 04:10 PM
I guess the leather remains are the primary reason we all talk about the Romans *always* using leather tents. Felt or woven fabric doesn't last long buried in the ground. We know the Romans had and used all three kinds of materials, but only leather scraps have been found. From a couple of corners, compared to some sculptural evidence, we've been able to come up with some pretty reasonable dimensions for the tents.
Linen would, indeed, make a lighter tent, but not as strong as leather. Leather would be easier to waterproof using what we think they had at their disposal. It almost makes sense that there would have been a cadre of tanners following along with the legions on campaign, since tanning leather isn't an overnight process, and the thousands of goats and sheep eaten would have delivered hides for tanning and making leather panels for tents, bags, belts, straps, tie strings, and who knows what else. It's hard to imagine the structural stress on a large praesidium type tent, which could be 6 to 8 meters wide. A hundred kg of leather hoisted up on poles, yikes. Big job. Linen would easily cut that weight to 20 or 30 kg. I don't know, though, I'm just speculating, as usual.
(For the record, using a special tool, I can get about 3-4 meters of approximately 4mm tie string from a disc of soft leather 15cm in diameter. With only a sharp knife, it's possible to do the same thing. These can be cut from the scraps left over after harvesting the tent panel rectangles. Not much goes to waste. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home ... Product_26 )
Linen would, indeed, make a lighter tent, but not as strong as leather. Leather would be easier to waterproof using what we think they had at their disposal. It almost makes sense that there would have been a cadre of tanners following along with the legions on campaign, since tanning leather isn't an overnight process, and the thousands of goats and sheep eaten would have delivered hides for tanning and making leather panels for tents, bags, belts, straps, tie strings, and who knows what else. It's hard to imagine the structural stress on a large praesidium type tent, which could be 6 to 8 meters wide. A hundred kg of leather hoisted up on poles, yikes. Big job. Linen would easily cut that weight to 20 or 30 kg. I don't know, though, I'm just speculating, as usual.
(For the record, using a special tool, I can get about 3-4 meters of approximately 4mm tie string from a disc of soft leather 15cm in diameter. With only a sharp knife, it's possible to do the same thing. These can be cut from the scraps left over after harvesting the tent panel rectangles. Not much goes to waste. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home ... Product_26 )
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
